Investigation on commercial carbon-based conductive materials on the performance of a microbial fuel cell

In this study many commercial carbon-based materials suitable as electrode in Microbial Fuel Cell (MFC) devices have been tested. Different carbon-based materials were compared, including carbon textile, carbon sheet, carbon paper, rod and granular graphite. Tests have been conducted by Saccharomyces cerevisiae in MFC fed with glucose; and were verified that anode material influences the bacteria adhesion and the electron transfer process from microorganisms to the anode. Furthermore, nitric acid and thermal activation of carbon felt have been explored to increase the power density in MFC. Tests revealed that low-cost commercial textiles C200/T and NCT 200 have the best performances with a power of 33.7 and 32.4 mW L-1, respectively. Power density of activated carbon felt has been improved in 2.6 higher compared with untreated carbon felt. Surface morphology was examined by a Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscope (FESEM) and electrical performance were analyzed using a potentiostat in terms of open circuit voltage, current density and linear sweep voltammeter behavior.